"Black velvet backgrounds always seemed to have worked for Milton. He said that because there were no distractions, you could see the subject lit perfectly. Here Marilyn is in a black jersey, and a perfectly plain Norell cocktail dress with spaghetti straps. Incidentally, months earlier, while giving a press conference for Prince and the Showgirl, this was the dress whose strap popped. It had a matching, waist length cape, in black wool, slashed with green ribbon threaded through. The shoulder treatment is black, six-inch tassels hanging from a ridge of smocking. Above that are ruffles and ruches. Pure Norell! Marilyn loved it. She wore it with black satin pumps, a black evening bag and no jewelry. We were in business!"